Plan would enhance veterans memorial

A dinner will help raise funds for the project, estimated at $75,000.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- A plan is in place for an enhanced Struthers Veterans Memorial on Struthers High School property at Morrison Street and Euclid Avenue.
All that is needed is the money to carry it out, say members of the Struthers Veterans Memorial Committee.
MS Consultants, the Youngstown architectural firm that donated the design and construction plans for the memorial, estimated the cost at about $75,000.
To help raise the money, the memorial committee is having a chicken dinner from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Oak View Banquet Hall, 1300 Overlook Ave. at state Route 616.
Tickets, which are $15 each, can be obtained by calling Gene Yuhas, memorial committee president, at (330) 755-9048.
The memorial committee also is accepting donations, which can be mailed to the Struthers Veterans Memorial, 99 Euclid Ave., Struthers 44471, as well as donations for parts of the new memorial, which will be marked with the donor's name.
The package
Included are five concrete monuments, representing each of the country's military branches, $3,000 each; three flagpoles, $1,000 each; 25 sidewalk squares, $150 each; six landscaping trees, $200 each; 12 landscaping shrubs, $100 each; and 5,500 paving bricks with three lines for names, $50 each.
The current limestone memorial was placed by the high school in 1950 or 1951 by Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts 3538 and 7538 and American Legion Post 158 after construction of the Struthers Field House.
The memorial committee says Joe Jack, a custodian at Struthers City Hall, got the limestone slab from the limestone quarry in Bessemer, Pa., and it was transported to its current location by Charlie Pompei.
The Ladies Auxiliary and various garden clubs have kept up the landscaping around the memorial.
Group set goal
About two years ago, however, a group formed with the goal of enlarging the memorial. Various sites were considered, but it was determined the limestone might break if it was moved, and the decision was made to construct the new memorial at its current site, Yuhas said.
Yuhas praised the cooperation of the school board, Superintendent Sandra DiBacco, and the various individuals and businesses who have pledged to donate time, money and materials for the project.
Originally, the memorial committee had hoped to have the project completed by this Veterans Day, but not enough funds have been raised. Construction will begin when enough money is available to complete the project, Yuhas said.
He urged residents and businesses to consider making a donation to "honor and thank all veterans who fought and many who gave their lives to provide us [with] a better life."
alcorn@vindy.com